Ignition system for internalcombustion engines



W. 1.. MAYO Aug. 28, 1945.

IGNI TION SYSTEMFOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Fi led Oct'. 26, 1944 2 Sheets-Shet 1 I lb l VENT OR. Wilbur I... Ma

I ATTORNEYS.

Aug-28, 1945. w. L. M'AYO 2,38 ,875

IGNITION SYSTEM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION. ENGINES Filed Oct. 26, 1944' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 ms. 31:6 A

l "'l l I INVENTOR.

Wi bur 1;. M l;

. ATTORNEYS.

' feed 9682(6) BYfi Patented Aug. 28, 1945 for devices employing timed *exposive' charg for their 0peration,-such'as internal combus engines.

Due to mechanical difiiculties'th'ere "is a definite limit to thespeed regulation which mayjbesecured with .inertia and velocity governors. 'With the view of attaining better speed re'gulation, previousart has developed ex'act'control' diff ential governors according to angular" shift of the controlled device withfrespect to a controlling device. Generally the controllingdevi'cje cafii b e classified as belonging to oneof'twofl groups, [It may be of the same type as the icontrolledjdevice in the event that the object is' tof attain' synchronization 'of' devices, as engines; without regard to any special necessity for uniformity of the absolute speed of the devices If, on the other hand, the object is not simply to'syn'chroniae more 'or less similar devices, as motors, but to attain maximum speed uniformity for one or.

more motors, thenthe controlling motor is 'apt to be small, unloaded, and of a type with marked constant speed characteristics.

There are some installations, suc motor model airplanes, fonwhich the weight and space limitations are suchfthat ,it is net very practical to connect the controlled motors with the controlling motor by means of; shafting and differential gearing. Nor is it, more practical to use the differential gearing arrangement with. shaf-ting between the motors, and the differential gearing eliminated through use of an electric generator at the motor, coupled to a synchronous electric motor at the differential gearing. Onev A EN iourri( jrrsvsTEM FOR INTERNAL-- .coMBU's'rIoN ENGINES? -iwwwa e s, Application October 26, 1944, Serial No. 560,452 q: n 1 c1.so--97) This invention relates to speed controlsystems object and advantage of this inventionis that,

without the addition of excess shafting and gearmg, differential governor actioncan be effected by simple electrical connection between controlled internal combustion engines and their control-- ling engine or motor.

Where the object of; the differential governor is toattain a very uniform speed, the controlling motoris usually unloaded and relatively free from the load variations which tend to cause change of speed of thecontrolled motor. However, the controlling motor is not-"entirely free from variation of the load on the controlled motor inthat some power must be supplied to the differential gear in order to adjust'the controls of the controlled motoraccording to the load imposed on it.- This situation has led to the invention of systems providingmeans for controlling the contro-llingmotorinzsuch manner as Li a to minimize the effects of thehiffei' ential gear loads imposed upon it. This-invention has ana'd' i .1 vantage not presented 'by previous difier'entiaI governors in that variation offthe l'oad on the: controlled motor is not in anyway transinitted to the controlling or"-master-"*rnotor 'l he' 'si' nificance of this advantage is thatj a more un form speed can be secured with simplei mech nism.

Previous differential governors hav I I that there be provided" a "controllingfrotat' shaft or motor. In my invention the entire 'fu tion of the controlling motor 'relativ o hefc trolled motor is to generate electr Thus, the system herein disclosed; that a vibrator orwotherjsourcje of}: pulses, may be substituted; for th motor.- The attendant simplification provement provides fora compact, lig speed control system, comprisingibutj and none of these parts complicated.

Otherobjects and advantages ,offlfthe nvention will be apparent duringl'the ,coursie 'of he, following detailed descriptionof' theiinve taken in connection, with thet'accompany ng drawings, forming apart ofthis specificati o and in which drawings- .Figure 1 is a view,-par tly in,perspec partly diagrammatic, of an internal com t i en" engine and oneembodiment of thelinventioni sociated therewith. g Figure 2 is a similar view, but with x; I fled embodiment of the novelsyste asso ated, therewith. 5.; 1. 1,: Figure 3 is a diagrammatic showing; of no. system of Figure 1 applied to two.,engines, I Figure 4 is a diagrammatic ,view of -the system of Figure 2 applied to a pair of engines. =1

Figure 5 is a partly 'diagrannnatic -,view eta; switch, operating means associatedywithithekrsys t tem of- Figures 1- and 3.- l f;-

In}, the drawings, wherein forthe purposeof' illustration are shown preferred and moclifiedembodiments of the invention, the letter A desig':- nates generally a controlled device, as an-ine=s ternal combustion engine; the letter B the system including an electric motor; and-C, the sys'tem, including anelectric vibrator. The controlled device A, shown as anin'tern'al combustion engine, includes a block or frame lilfspark plugs H carried by the block; and a con ventional distributor l2, having'a rotor- 13 which may be operativelyconnected, as'by 'gearsf" the engine's crankshaft, 'or'be' directly cbnnectato the crankshaft. Conductors i4 and are by an earlier occurrence of the spark impulse provided between the spark plugs H and spaced with respect to the beginning of the next cycle.

apart contacts I6 and ll of the distributor l2. Since the engine is operating at slightly retarded In the novel system herein disclosed, the conspark, the efiective advance of spark will result ventional battery, transformer or spark coil, and 5 in increased power for the purpose of correcting condenser associated with the ignition system of the slowing tendency. If the engine starts to ac the internal combustion engine may be elimicelerate, the cycles of the engine occupy slightly nated, or employed for initial ignition. smaller time periods so that, with the timing of It is wellto state that the engine A must be one the spark impulse independently of the engine selected for the approximate maximum load lfi speed, "any speeding of the en'gine will be accomwhich will be imposed upon it. The novel system panied'by a later occurrencecf thesparkimpulse requires an engine throttle opening equal to the v with respect to the beginning of successive cycles. maximum which would occur during operation" This eifective retardation of the spark results in with a conventional throttle governon'iiThere a decreasepf power and correction of the speedfore, it is desirable to select a conservatively' li'at'e'd uituntenuency.

engine which will not be required to operate at In the event it is desired to control and synmaximum power. This is both economical'an'd chronize' 'the'speed of a plurality of controlled for the best interests of the cysteine devices-A, themodification shown diagrammati- It is also desirable to employ a distributor rotor cally in Figure 3 may be employed, where a secl3 of r the wider conventional type, found""best-2[i mascara coil or transformer 35 is interposed in adapted-Icifacilitatingadjustmentandconstruc-- the-line-29 to the battery 28, with the high tentlonthereofiw Such-a rotor is-desirable-in: this sion side of the second transformer 35 connected novel'system so --that'contact will-be maintainedto the rotor l3 of thedistributor-ilf of a secondove'r' considerable angularrange. Qbviously v the engine A, by conductor 36, and the second transdlstributoryshould be-one which-will=not complete former grounded-of course, asat 31 the; circuit to'a-particularr-sparkplug during the The'modified system C', shown in' Figures E'andcompression stroke of the piston in the cylinder 4, substitutes a vibrator in 'place of the motorcontainjngsuchplugi .p .g t t b t operated s'wit'cnmeans of the System 3. Other rotor I3 is shown as mounted directly on the wiee thesystem-either with respect to one concrankshaftby the controlleddevice (which may 0 trolled device A or a plurality .of controlled debe--a-.;:two- -cycle internal combustion. engine); vices A; is the same as-described wherein the- However, the exact location, mounting and oper'-' motor-operated switch means is employed. v ative connection of the distributor with the en The vibrator includes 'an"ele'ctr'o-'magnet' 40-,"

girlie-crankshaft, or dislike, no't'fpart'icularly adapted to attract, when energizei-switch-arm importantinconnecticn withjthis system. pg 4|, pivoted at 42.

The novel system B, shown n Figures '1, 3 and A'retractioncoil spring 43,"or-the like urges the 5, includes iasuitable device 20," as 'a small con: arm Ill toward and into engagement with 'afixed stant sped mot0r,'-Whicli' need "not have power contact'ldj Withffrespect 'to conductors, referabove ,that requi'r'ed torota'tefa "cam member 2!" mice charactrssimilar' 'tc'those in the. system B asainst'the'weight and frictional engagement of" are employedtodcsignate corresponding'partsin amovable contact "orjswitrfli'arrn23, ridiiigupon the system" C." The"'s pring 43"is 'not"'powerfu'l the cam surfacefofthemember 2|. 1 This cam' enoughito counteract"the "pull offtheen'ergi'zed' member may be of dielectric material, operatively electrcma'grret. It"is0bVlbus'that', when the ele i connected with the motor"2Ol asby"conventional tromagnemo is energized the' watcher-maria speed reduction gearing ao drawn toward it, breaking" the'circuit at contact "rotation or thei' camf' member 2 l the 44 This "deene'rgiz'estheelectromagnet and perswitch arm 23' alternately and-"rhythmicallymitsspring'fl 'to'draw the switch armifinto en; makes and breaks an electric cirrniitj by engaginggagement with the contact 44:? Thus,'alternately,' andseparating'flfrom affiked'contact 24: A Suitin a rhythmic way,'c1irrent' flows and 'cease'sin the ablresilientmeans,asthe'Jeaf'SDringZSJrnay 5 transformer 3f and by' this action;in'terrii'ittent provided to bear upon the I swithiarm 23-" to urge low potential current thru' the electromagnetcir it toward the cam memberZl. cu it'i'nducesrhythmic high potential'impulses for Tfie'ffiied contact 2 l' andsp'ring 25"may -b'e" carthe distributor circuit, wholly independentofany riedbyan'd suitably insulated from'ahousing 26f rotating portion of theengine. v which may also house the motor 20, ;and-*this" In the speed synchronizing of-several "engines; housiri'g ZG -rnay *alsosu'l l irtthe pivot -fli of dien'ipl'oyin'g'the VibratorfSYSteMfi irr'Figure4 it will electric materiaL' for th'switch arrii 23f. be*seen'that'a'second transformeror spark "coil" battery 28,*ei'rteiids" afi electric conductor ZS -t'i -the' the-battery 28 an'd el'ectromagnet10fwith the fixed contact 2l;wfiile?aseobi'id'electric conductor v high tn'SiOn"sideof-thetransforlner 35"elec"-' 30 extends. fromthswitch --"a 1"'1i':1 23- to tlie lo'w tricallly' cltirlilect'd'f by the conductor 38? to tension side of a sparkicoi l ior trahsformer 3!, the rotor of the distributorassociatewwith the from whi'ch side alsofi 'an electric' conducton' fl secdnd engin'e From the lowtehsiorr'side of this connects-with thebattery 281- iThehigh tensioir' transformers a conducto leads'fto thewind? side ofi the transfo'rmeril l is lconnecte'd 'with' the I 5, ings' of tlie electron'iagnet' 40) and a second "con"- r t r 43 y electric t q fi -ground Wi-re' ductor 46 from the' 'windi r' igs bfthe electroniag oi conductorwbalso being piovided =ror:-this lsidel net'td the mcvable ccntact' l I".

,With-this novel governing-system, therengine From"the foregcing 'it is apparentj that the- I throttle is opened more: than is-the ease-"of the speed-of one or a plurality of: 'con trolled' dvice'sordinary ignitiorrsystem; and the engineoperates cf the class describedgamay be regulated wholly' t e ishtly retarded sp ked; the engine sta'rts independentlyipf the =rotatingparts' of' 'th 'con to slow, the cyclesof; the engine; occupy :a slightly: trolled devicesr Thus, inthe case oiT'tw'o 'or m'oregreater time period;- so-that, -with the timirlg of controlled devices; all will be"synchronizedand the sp ark impulse independent ofwthe enginetheir speed will-be'ccnstant;allwiththe employ Speed -any, slowing c t-the engine-is accompanied ment of but few-parts and-" all of those' compact' combustion engine having, associated therewith,

a distributor, provided with a rotor operatively connected with a rotating portion of said engine, said system comprising an electric switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact, means wholly independent of the speed of said engine for rhythmically opening and closing said switch, a spark coil electrically connected to one of said contacts, a source f electric energy electrically connected with said coil and with the other of said contacts, and an electric conductor from the high tension side of said coil to said rotor.

2. A constant speed system for an internal combustion engine having, associated therewith, a distributor, provided with a rotor, operatively connected with a rotating portion ofsaid engine, said system comprising an electric switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact, means wholly independent of the speed of said engine for rhythmically opening and closing said switch, including a rotating cam member, engaging said movable contact, and a motor operatively connected with said cam, a spark coil electrically connected to one of said contacts, a' source of electric energy electrically connected with said coil and with the other of said contacts, and an electric conductor from the high tension side of said coil to said rotor.

3. A constant speed system for an internal combustion engine having, associated therewith, a' distributor, provided with a rotor operatively connected with a rotating portion of said engine, said system comprising an electric switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact, meanswholly independent of the speed of said engine for rhythmically opening and closing said switch,

including an electromagnet disposed to attract said movable contact, a spark coil electrically said contacts, a second spark coil, a source of electric energy electrically connected with said coil and with the other of said contacts, and an electric conductor from the high tension side of said coil to said rotor.

4. A constant speed system for a pair of internal combustion engines, each having a distributor associated therewith, said distributor being provided with a rotor operatively connected with a rotating portion of its engine, said system comprising a single electric switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact, means wholly independent of the speed of said engines for rhythmically opening and closing said switch, a spark coil electrically connected with one of said contacts, a second spark coil, a source of electric energy connected with the low tension side of each of said coils, an electric conductor from the low tension side of said second-named coil to the other of said contacts, an electric conductor from the high tension side of said firstnamed coil to one of said rotors, and an electric conductor from the high tension side of the other of said coils to the other of said rotors.

5. A constant speed system for a pair of internal combustion engines, each having a distributor associated therewith, said distributor being provided with a rotor operatively connected with a rotating portion of its engine, said system comprising a single electric switch having a fixed contact and a movable contact, means wholly separated from the rotating portions of said engines for rhythmically opening and closing said switch, a spark coil electrically connected with one of said contacts, a secondspark coil, a source of electric energy connected with the low tension side of each of said coils, an electric conductor from the low tension side of said second-named CERTIFICATE toRREGTION; Patent No. 2,585,876. August 2 915.

s WILBUR L. MAYO.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 5, second column, line 2, after "electrically" insert the words "connected to one of-; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein thatjthe same may conform to the record of .the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 18th day of December, A. D. 1915,

Leslie Frazer (Seal) First Assistant Commissioner of Patents. 

